Is this really a fundraiser?
Yes, this event raises funds for the band program at Skyline High School. The nonprofit
entity is Skyline Friends of the Arts.
The director of Brick Bash (Duane Collicott) was himself a participant in the band program in Ann
Arbor Public Schools (Dicken, Slauson, Pioneer), as were his sons (Abbot, Forsythe,
Skyline) and is a volunteer for the event.
Exhibitors - the LEGO fans who display their models - are also volunteers.
Vendors - those who are selling food or products - donate a nice percentage of their sales.
Vendors are purely extra. That is, the admission at the door
is all you need to see everything and participate in all hands-on actiities.
In years past, many people asked that there be refreshments and LEGO products to buy
at Brick Bash, and so we added them to the show.
Are tickets sold in advance?
We will be selling tikets online in advance. We do not have it set up yet, thouigh.
Can I talk to the builders?
Yes, certainly! We are all just regular people, and we love to talk about what we built, why we built it the way we did, how we built it,
what problems we had while building it, etc. And we like to hear about what you build.
Can I touch the LEGO at Brick Bash?
Well, yes and no. If a display is behind a plastic chain or has a "Please do not touch"
sign, it must not be touched. Please respect the effort and time that the builders put into
their models.
However, there are hands-on activities, including the
free-build area (millions of loose LEGO and Duplo parts to play with), a race track,
and even a collaborative mosaic-building project that everybody (even kids) can participate
in.
Can I take home what I build?
We're sorry, but unless it's something you bought, it must stay here. All the loose LEGO and
Duplo is part of
somebody's personal collection that is loaned to us each year for Brick Bash. We do not receive parts or
assistance from the LEGO company.
Are there LEGO clubs in the area?
Yes. All clubs within 100 miles of Ann Arbor, and some from further away, are represented at
Brick Bash. You will see them displaying as a group or as individual members, or both.
By the way, "LUG" is an acronym for "LEGO User Group," which is just a fancy way of saying it's a club.
MichLUG
is a large and very active club that is primarily in the southeastern
Michigan area but has members as far away as Grand Rapids, Bay City, and
the UP. They have a large faction within the club that focuses on trains
and city layouts, but there all other themes and interests are represented
and enjoyed as well. Many of the individual members have their own personal
focus and build heavily in that area.
The Toledo Division is a subset of MichLUG which consists mostly
of builders from the Toledo, Ohio, area. Although they are not a separate club,
they warrant mention here due to the sheer size of their colloborative
displays, which often involve modules from fifteen club members. As a group,
they have brought to Brick Bash the bigest displays we have ever had at the show.
TherapeuticLUG
is a club in the greater southeastern area (ranges from Jackson to the Thumb). their
philoshophy is: "we believe in utilizing the therapeutic medium of LEGO to
express our view points in life, and have fun." The director of Brick Bash can attest
to the fun part, as he is a member.
Western Michigan LEGO User Group is a club in the western Michigan area, centered
around Grand Rapids. The members of this club were formerly part of MichLUG,
but as the club grew geographically it became too big to be served by a
single club. Many builders are members of both clubs, and the two clubs can often
be seen displaying next to one another, or even in partnership, at various shows.
FortLUG is a club in the Fort
Wayne, Indiana, area. We know a few of the members, and we let them come to Brick Bash,
so it must be a nice enough group!
Is this show the same show as Brickworld?
No, but Brickworld is a friend of Brick Bash, and we encourage you to atttend both shows!
Brickworld is the show that used to be at Suburban Collection
Showplace in Novi through 2022, but is not the show that is there now (we do not recommend the show
that is there now, Brick Fest Live). Catch Brickworld the next time comes to
Grand Rapids (September).
Is this show the same show as Brick Fest Live?
No, Brick Fest Live is a different show and has no connection whatsoever with Brick Bash.